RFID race timing for events of any size
Barefoot RFID is professional chip timing on trusted European-engineered hardware, with registration built into the same system, live results and splits, and a local crew who set it up and stand behind it.
Recognised bodies our race timing system has supported
RFID race timing records the exact moment every participant crosses a timing point, so you get accurate chip times, splits and live results without anyone standing at the line with a stopwatch. Barefoot RFID does that on proven hardware, with your entries already in the system, and a local crew who know what race day actually looks like.
Built by event organisers.
Trusted by race directors.
450+
Events delivered every year across Australia and New Zealand
50,000
Participants supported at a single event
75+
years
Combined event experience
2
countries
Australian and New Zealand owned, operated and on the ground
The timing reality
RFID timing is the standard for a reason — it is the only practical way to time a field where dozens of people cross a line in the same few seconds. But the technology gets sold as a magic box, and organisers get caught out by what nobody mentions.
No system reads 100% of tags, 100% of the time. Good equipment, well set up, gets very close, and the difference between a good day and a bad one is usually the setup and the backup, not the brand on the decoder. A timer worth using tells you how they handle a missed read before you ask.
Where you put the timing points matters as much as the hardware. Chip time only exists if there is a reader at the start line as well as the finish, and split times only exist where you put a reader on course.
And timing is only half the job. The results are only as good as the entry data behind them, which is why timing that sits in a different system to your registration is where most race-day errors come from.
Why our timing system works
for your event
Proven, trusted hardware
Barefoot RFID runs on trusted European-engineered hardware and has been proven at events up to 50,000 participants, so the equipment is not the variable. What changes the outcome is everything around it.
No more 6am fixes
Your entries live in the same system as your timing, so nothing gets re-keyed and nothing gets lost between two vendors. Registration can stay open later, because a late entry flows straight through to the finish line instead of becoming a manual fix at 6am.
Event people on site
You choose how many timing points you need — start, finish, splits, laps or checkpoints — and a local crew sets them up and watches the data live. If something needs a call on the day, someone who has run events is standing there to make it.
Results as they happen
Results and splits publish live, so participants, spectators and your announcer see them as they happen rather than an hour after the last finisher.
And where a full crew is not the right fit — a remote trail race, a small round in a series — Barefoot Lite gives you the same platform in a self-deployable form you can run yourself.
Who it’s for?
- Road running events from 5km to the marathon
- Triathlon, duathlon and multisport events with waves, transitions and multiple legs
- Cycling, mountain bike and BMX events, including lap and criterium formats
- Trail, off-road and ultra events with multiple checkpoints
- Hybrid fitness, Hyrox-style and obstacle events running heats and stations
- Series and multi-event organisers who need results to carry across rounds
Features
Proven at scale
The same RFID hardware that times 50,000-participant city races times your 400-person fun run.
Registration and timing in one Entries flow straight into timing, so there is no re-keying and no import errors on race morning.
Start, finish, splits and checkpoints
Add timing points where you need them, for accurate chip times, live splits and lap counts.
Live results and tracking
Results publish as participants finish, so spectators, announcers and athletes see them in real time.
Crewed or self-service
Our crew runs the timing, or you run Barefoot Lite yourself on remote and smaller events.
Local support on the ground
A local team who have stood on start lines, not a support ticket answered from another time zone.
Ready to Elevate
Your Event?
Let's connect and see how Barefoot Sport simplifies registrations and maximises participant experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Barefoot RFID?
Barefoot RFID is Barefoot’s professional chip timing service, running on trusted European-engineered hardware with registration, live results and splits in the same system.
How big an event can Barefoot RFID handle?
Barefoot RFID is proven at events up to 50,000 participants, and works the same way for a few hundred.
Do I need a Barefoot crew on site?
Not always. Our crew can run your timing, or you can run Barefoot Lite yourself for remote and smaller events.
Does registration come with it?
Yes. Barefoot Registration and Barefoot Timing are one system, so entries flow straight into your results.
Which sports does Barefoot time?
Road running, trail and ultra, triathlon and multisport, cycling, mountain bike and BMX, and hybrid fitness formats.
How accurate is RFID race timing?
RFID race timing records crossings to fractions of a second, which is far more accurate than any manual method. Read rates are high but never a guaranteed 100% — a small number of tags will be missed at any event, which is why professional timing includes backup reads and a documented process for correcting a missed crossing. Ask any provider how they handle missed reads before you book them.
What is the difference between gun time and chip time?
Gun time runs from the official start signal and is the same for everyone. Chip time runs from the moment each participant crosses the start line to the moment they cross the finish. In a crowded field, back-of-pack participants can wait minutes to reach the start, so chip time reflects their actual effort. Overall placings usually use gun time, while personal results use chip time.
Do you need a timing mat at the start line as well as the finish?
Yes, if you want to give participants a chip time. A finish-line reader on its own can only produce gun time, because there is no record of when each person actually started. A start-line reader also lets you run wave starts fairly and confirm who was on course, which matters for participant safety on point-to-point and trail events.
Can RFID timing separate runners who cross the line at the same time?
Yes. RFID readers detect and timestamp multiple tags at once, so a group finishing shoulder to shoulder still gets individual times. The practical limits are density and setup rather than the technology, which is why the finish arch, antenna placement and lane width matter on high-volume events. For photo-finish placings at the sharp end, chip timing is usually paired with finish-line video.
What is the difference between UHF and low-frequency timing chips?
Low-frequency chips are read at very close range and are typically reusable, often worn on an ankle strap or shoe, which suits water and multisport formats. UHF chips are read at greater distance, are cheap enough to be disposable, and are usually built into the back of a race bib. UHF is now the standard for road running. Which one suits your event depends on the format and whether you want to collect tags afterwards.
Do participants have to hand their timing chips back?
It depends on the tag. Disposable UHF tags attached to a bib are single use, so there is nothing to collect. Reusable tags have to be returned, which means staffing a collection point and budgeting for the ones that walk off — most timing contracts charge the organiser for unreturned tags. Reusable tags cut single-use waste, so the trade-off is admin against sustainability.
Let’s make your next event your easiest yet.
Work with people who get the pace, pressure, and precision of endurance events and build platforms that match it.